Graduate School students, alumni, faculty earn honors

June 6, 2012

Students, alumni and faculty in the Emporia State University Graduate School have plenty of which to be proud as they celebrate their recent accomplishments.

Under the instruction of Dr. Peggy Lane and after two weeks (80 hours total) of coursework, MBA (Masters of Business Administration) graduate students Adnan Alkhoudeer, Ali Alwayel, Hamzah Firman, Erin Hoag, Omer Khan, Lin Lin, and Katie McKee, and Dr. Ronald Freeze passed the TERP10 SAP (Systems, Applications, and Products in Data Processing) certification exam on May 18, 2012, with a total pass rate of 80 percent for the course.

The TERP 10 SAP certification is an entry-level certification that, according to http://www.sap.com, “covers the fundamental knowledge requirements for a consultant, or project team member ensuring the successful acquisition of broad SAP solution knowledge and skills.” This SAP certification will benefit these individuals tremendously and will enable them to utilize the SAP Certified Associate Logo, which is an “externally-recognized mark of excellence that clients seek.”

Brian Obermeyer, who graduated from Emporia State University with a bachelor’s degree in biology in 1994 and a master’s degree in biology in 1996, was featured in the Nature Conservancy quarterly magazine [2012(2): 21] for his article “A Good Place for Wind,” which describes the research done by Obermeyer and his colleagues for “Development by Design: Mitigating Wind Development’s Impacts on Wildlife in Kansas” published in Public Library of Science (PLoS) ONE journal in 2011. The article was a highlight of the Nature Conservancy’s efforts to lower the risks of wind development to the tall grass prairie and other crucial habitats.

Dr. Abdelilah Salim Sehlaoui, professor in Emporia State’s Department of English, Modern Languages and Journalism, published “Developing ESL/EFL Teachers’ Cross-cultural Communicative Competence: A Research-based Critical Pedagogical Model” through Lambert Academic Publishing in New York in 2011. The work focuses on the universal lack of preparation for effective critical cross-cultural communicative competence in TESOL professionals. It offers a unique inclusion of Computer-Assisted Language Learning as well as classroom-tested activities and instructional resources and strategies for TESOL professionals use.

Ashley (Long) Tsakiris, who earned a master’s degree in biology in 2010, was published in 2011 in “The Wilson Journal of Ornithology.” The research project, titled “Orientation of Sap Wells Excavated by Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers,” was completed as part of the ZO531 Animal Behavior Lab at Emporia State University and focused on the orientation of sap wells that had been excavated by Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers.

Ann Miller, Counselor Education professor and Director of Community Counseling Services, presented “Implementation of client-suggested improvements at a community-based counselor education program training facility” at the Association of Counselor Education and Supervision (ACES) national conference in Nashville, Tenn. In addition, Miller presented “Cognitive-behavioral therapy: Specific techniques for working with children, adolescents, and adults” at the School Counselor Association (KSCA) annual fall conference in November 2011. Miller and graduate student Derrek Zietz presented “Catching the movement toward empowering and inclusive language” at the Kansas Counseling Association (KCA) annual state convention in Topeka, Kan. in March 2012.

Instructional Design and Technology graduate student Shelley Cunningham presented her work titled “Creating Interactive Staff Education with Softchalk” at the annual Teaching, Learning and Technology Showcase at Kansas State University in March 2012. Cunningham showed how Softchalk can be used to create lesson objects and complete courses and to develop interactive staff education modules.

Cindy Johnson, computer instructor for Jefferson County North High School in Winchester, Kan., was recognized by the National Business Education Association as the Secondary Business Teacher of the Year in April at the National Business Education Association Conference in Boston.

Johnson graduated from Emporia State University in 2003 with a master’s degree in Instructional Design and Technology. Johnson was also named the Mountain-Plains Business Education Secondary Educator of the Year in 2011. In addition to receiving these recognitions, Johnson presented “Amazing iPad Applications” at the Mountain-Plains Business Education Association Conference and “An Introduction to iPads” at the Jefferson County North USD 339 district In-service.

Emporia State’s Graduate School offers 27 master’s degree programs with 34 available concentrations, one Ph.D. program in with available areas of concentration, one Ed.S. program and 10 certification programs. Of the graduate degree programs, 13 are offered online. Classes are offered on the Emporia campus and also at the Metro Learning Center in the Kansas City-metropolitan area.

Emporia State University is a dynamic and progressive student-centered learning community that fosters student success through engagement in academic excellence, community and global involvement, and the pursuit of personal and professional fulfillment.